The ugly and the beautiful

When someone exclaims that so- and-so is beautiful, another may differ. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. There are, indeed, some conventional notions of what is beautiful. For instance, an aquiline nose, and rosebud lips perhaps. Another might find a pug nose and wide lips even more attractive. What or who you consider fetching, depends on what your perspective and conditioning are.

A German Shepherd, Afghan Hound or Golden Retriever may be handsome to one and another may find a Mastiff, Bulldog or Pug so cute. Visiting Tanzania's Maasai Mara region in Arusha, Africa, some decades ago, we came across a little hamlet, called Mosquito Creek. 'O how romantic', I   remarked, admiring the deep blue Jacaranda flowers strewn all over the red soil beneath our feet. And a fellow traveller turned up her nose in disgust.

In humans, apart from this 'beholder' angle, there is another reason for differences in beauty ratings. More than physical dimensions and attributes, true beauty shines through that person's personality, attitude and behaviour. And what the eyes convey. For example, a frown is ugly on anyone sporting that dour expression, but a smile lights up anyone's countenance, even if he is considered ugly otherwise. Howsoever perfect his facial features may be, an angry person looks ugly; in fact, he looks terrifying. Or pathetic.


So, who is ugly and who is beautiful is all about context, expression, attitude and so on. 'I never saw an ugly thing in my life: Let the form of an object be what it may - light, shade and perspective will always make it beautiful,' remarked painter-artiste John Constable.